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The 

Slovaks of Cleveland 

With Some General Information 
On the Race 

By 
ELEANOR E. LEDBETTER 

Librarian Broadway Branch 
Cleveland Public Library 




Nineteen-Eighteen 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



Under the Direction of the 

Cleveland Americanization Committee 
Mayor's Advisory War Committee 



The 

Slovaks of Cleveland 

With Some General Information 
On the Race 

By 

ELEANOR E. LEDBETTER 

Librarian Broadway Branch 
Cleveland Public Library 



**• 




Nineteen-Eighteen 



Under the Direction of the 

Cleveland Americanization Committee 
Mayor's Advisory War Committee 






COPYRIGHT, 1918 

By 

THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY WAR COMMITTEE 



AiiG 15/918 

©CI.A502517 
■^ f 



FOREWORD 



A^ THE work of the Cleveland AmeTicanization Committee took on more 
/_\ definite shape, it seemed to separate itself into two divisions; first, 
X .^-bringing the foreign born residents into close touch with the language, 
customs and ideals of America; and second, giving to the native born Ameri- 
cans an understanding of the racial and political sympathies of the foreign 
born. Without a common understanding of the best each has to offer, no real 
fusion of new and older Americans will ever take place. 

With this end in view, a series of articles has been planned, taking 
up individually the various races prominently represented in our cosmopolitan 
city. 

"The Slovaks of Cleveland" is presented as the first of this series. It 
is very desirable that this race be better understood in view of the prominent 
part they are now bearing in world politics. The establishment of a Czecho- 
slovak state will prove one of the best possible barriers to future German 
aggression, and the annals of the Czecho-Slovak army in Russia are full of 
achievement as heroic as any the world has ever seen. 

The Czechs are well known by their English name, Bohemians, but there 
is very little general understanding of the Slovaks. The adjective "Slavish" 
which is sometimes used to describe them, has no standing in the dictionary 
and does not appear in any ethnological work. Their own adjective "Slo- 
vensky" has often led to their being confused with the Slovenians, who are 
an entirely different race. In the census they figure as Hungarians because 
bom in Hungary, and in other records they appear as Austrians, because 
they have come from the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. 

It is hoped that this publication may be effective in securing for them a 
better understanding. 

HELEN Bacon, Secretarv. 



THE SLOVAKS of CLEVELAND 

IN THE northern part of Hungary where the Carpathians slope toward 
the great Hungarian plain, is the country called by its children "Slovensko" 
or "Slovakland". 

Racial Definition. History. 

This region, comprising sixteen counties of Hungary, is the home of 
the Slovaks, a historic race of solid character and exceeding industry, whose 
fate through centuries has been aptly summarized in the statement that they 
are "the very step-children of fortune." 

It is a rough country, a country of mountainsides and valleys, and has 
been inhabited by this same race since the fifth cencury. In the year 863 
the wonderful story of Christ was brought to the Slovaks by the apostles 
Cyril and Methodius. In 870 A.D. their nation came for a brief space into 
the limelight of history as the nucleus of the Great Moravian empire under 
Svatopluk, whose capital was the city of Nitra. This kingdom was disrupted 
by Germans and Magyars early in the next century, and for a thousand years 
the Slovaks have lived in a state of vassalage to an alien race, the victims al- 
ways of oppression and suppression. 

That under these circumstances they have been able to maintain their 
own language and their national traditions through so great a period of time 
indicates a remarkable tenacity, both mental and spiritual. Their only fellow- 
ship has come from the west, — from their neighbors, the Moravians, and from 
the Czechs (here commonly called Bohemians), who live west of the Mora- 
vians. The Moravians and Bohemians use the Czech language. The Slovak 
tongue, while it is counted a distinct language, is yet so much akin to the 
Bohemian that mutual understanding is easy. This historic fellowship, so 
long continued, now looks to find at the end of the present war, political 
fruition in the establishment of an independent Czecho-Slovak state. 

Hungary is the name of a political division. There are four principal 
races within its confines, besides others of less numerical importance. The 
dominant race, generally known in America as Hungarians, are from a racial 
standpoint more correctly called Magyars. Then there are the Germans, with 
whom the Magyars are hand in glove : while the step-children are the Ruman- 
ians in southeastern Hungary, and the Slovaks in the northwestern part. 

The Slovaks number more than 2,000,000 souls, possibly even 3,000,000, 
but this can only be estimated, as the official census is notoriously unjust to 
all but the ruling race. Throughout Hungary there are occasional "islands" 
of Slovaks, but probably 2,000,000 at least live in the district called 
"Slovensko". 

Economic Conditions. 

This country is, except in certain limited portions, rough and rocky, 
with considerable forests. The valleys and fertile lands are mostly owned by the 
lords and nobles, absentee landlords all, or by the church, and to these the 
peasant must give a certain number of days' work free each year. The 
roughest portions, the shallowest soil, the mountainsides, uncultivable 



y 



THE 



SLOVAKS 



O F 



C L E V E LAN D 




AUSTRO' 
HUNGARIAN 
MONARCHY 

^ SLOVAKLAND 

SLOVtNSKO. 

to the western eye, are the farms of the Slovak peasant. In the spring and 
fall, manure is painfully, toilingly carried in baskets up the steep slopes to 
furnish food for the coming crops. 

The prosperous "rich" peasant owns at most a dozen acres, not in one plot 
but in strips, often miles apart, so that the labor of cultivation is multiplied 
manyfold. The poor peasant may try to make a living from a part of an acre. 
Failing to succeed in this, he leaves his wife and children to cultivate the home 
plot, while he seeks employment abroad, usually as an agricultural laborer in 
the plains of Hungary or he may go to the Eldorado, America. 

Money the Slovak peasant has only twice a year, — when he returns from 
this outside employment and when he harvests his own crops. But he does 
not have this long, for the tax-collector takes most of it. If he has been more 
than usually imfortunate, and has no money, the tax collector takes his house- 
hold goods; for kindness of heart or consideration for the individual or the 
community does not influence the tax collector in Hungary. 

Food. 

The staple foods of the Slovak are black bread, the flour a mixture of 
barley and rye, potatoes, cabbage, milk and cheese, and maize meal (corn meal). 
Breakfast consists of black bread and a thin corn meal porridge. Dinner is a soup 
thick v^nch noodles or vegetables, or cabbage cooked in a rich gravy. If the 
soup was made with meat, as happens sometimes, but not often, then the 
meat is used as a sepaiate dish. In the better parts of the country, there is 
a good supply of such vegetables as beans, peas, carrots, and turnips. Supper 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 

usually consists of potatoes with sour milk, or a corn meal mush with sour 
milk. Cottage cheese is much used. 

The fruits of the temperate climate, apples, plums, cherries, and 
apricots, all are said by the exile to be particularly well flavored in eastern 
Slovensko, and wild strawberries abound there. Children gather them and 
sell them for two cents a quart. Huckleberries are also plentiful. 
Sheep cheese, called hrindza, is a favorite article of food, and before the war 
was imported and sold in a few Cleveland stores. Mushrooms are much 
used. Plum brandy and juniper brandy are home made dnnks considered 
to have medicinal as well as social qualities. Delicious pastries called kolace 
and pasky are luxuries to be enjoyed like white bread, only on occasions such 
as Christmas, Easter, wedding and christening celebrations. Meat is always 
a luxury, and one of the frequent recommendations given by immigrants to 
America is that here there is "meat every day". Salt is a government mo- 
nopoly, ordinarily sold at ten or twelve cents a pound. 

Education. 

If the peasant's circumstances are passable and he does not live too far 
from a tov^m, he may send his children to school for four winters. The 
length of this term is determined by agricultural conditions. It is usually 
from November to about April, because the children must help to wrest a 
living from the soil. Children have to work from an early age, usually from 
about six years of age and they do work which we would consider it not only 
cruel, but impossible to ask from our children. As one Cleveland child of 
Slovak parentage has said, "My father says his children can never know how 
much better their childhood is than his was". For their work, children are 
paid about five dollars a year, and the day is from sunrise to sundown. 

During these four terms of school, the Slovak child will receive instruction 
in Magyar, — a foreign tongue, the language, not of his fathers, but of his 
oppressors, — a language which the Slovak hates and never uses, except under 
comptilsion. He says with justice that the Slovak tongue will take him all 
over the Slav world, while the Magyar has no value outside of Himgary. Con- 
sequently, the child, studying in a hated language, which has for him no daily 
use, learns very little, and finishes his four terms of school almost as ignorant 
as he began. It is for him exactly what it would be for us now if our children 
were compelled to receive their education in German. Never-the-less, he 
must in self-defense learn some Magyar, since he will never be sold a railroad 
ticket nor a postage stamp unless he asks for it in Magyar. 

A peasant who is both piosperous and ambitious, who is willing to sacri- 
fice what few comforts he has, and to bend every resource to one purpose, may 
choose the brightest of his children for a "higher education". For that the 
child must be sent to the city and pay tuition, besides board and other ex- 
penses. This can be done only if the would-be scholar himself seizes every 
opportunity and creates opportunities as well, to help himself and to add to 
the meagre allowance from home. Great is his responsibility. If he should 
fail, it is failure, not for one person only, but for all the family hopes. 

And from the beginning he must go with an outward acceptance of 
Magyarization. The students, Slovak though they may be, are allowed to 
converse in nothing but Magyar, even in their most private moments. Al- 
ways there are monitors whose duty it is to spy upon and betray their comrades 
and the school authorities do not hesitate to search rooms and trunks for such 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 

highly incriminating articles as a little book of Slovak poetry, or a bit of hand- 
wricing in that language. Even a student of theology is likely to be dismissed 
from the seminary and his whole career blasted if he shows any interest in 
the language of his own home and of his future flock. There is one clergyman 
in Cleveland to-day who twice saw fellow students meet this fate and who 
came to America because he was "discouraged" in consequence. 

Military Service. 

After graduating, the student has the privilege of volunteering for mili- 
tary service, if he does so immediately, and as a volunteer he can go into the 
army on terms which make it possible for him to become an officer in the re- 
serves at the end of a year. If he does not volunteer, however, he is summoned 
for service on the same terms as his brothers, who served for three years from 
the age of twenty-one. 

The treatment of privates in the Austrian army is unbelievably cruel. 
In the first place, the poor Slovak must speak in German whether he knows 
how or not. To answer in Slovak is one of the offences which may bring him 
a slap across the face, or cruel confinement in the guard-house. Sent to the 
guardhouse for some utterly trivial offence like failing to salute perfectly or 
having his shoes not shining in the requisite degree, or speaking in Slovak, 
he may be given bread and salt to eat and denied water for two or three days. 
Or his right arm may be fastened to his left leg with clamps, and he kept in 
that position for a day or two. A favorite punishment is to hang him up by 
a sort of harness under the arms, drawn up so that his toes barely touch the 
ground. He will be kept so until he grows black, then taken down, revived 
with a bucket of water and hung up again. Many commit suicide under these 
punishments. 

The soldier's nay is about three cents a day, — hardly enough for the ab- 
solutely required shoe-polish, needles and thread and polish for his brass 
buttons. He must have help from home during his whole period of service at 
a time of life which ought to be most productive. It is quite obvious that he 
gains no new loyalty to his rulers, except that which is instilled by fear. 

The Making of Emigrants. 

These conditions of political disaffection, of economic difficulty, of op- 
pressive taxation, with the denial of political representation, of language and 
of education, naturally make for emigration, once a goal has been discovered. 
The first Slovak emigrants to America, reporting that here they found "good 
wages, better living, and free schools, to which any human being can go" were 
naturally followed by others, until emigration became for some districts al- 
most an exodus. 

To these people the freedom of America was a discovery almost as great 
as the land itself had been to Columbus. What more natural than that they 
should soon begin to work toward freedom as a possession of the whole Slovak 
race. This desire found united expression in the formation in May, 1909, of 
the Slovak League, whose purpose is to promote the cause of liberty for the 
Slovaks everywhere. 

Slovak League. 

Since the beginning of the great war, this League has actively exerted 
itself to direct public sentiment so as to secure for the race just treatment at 

8 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 

the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy; and to hasten that event 
by every possible means. This activity has of course redoubled since the 
entrance of the United States into the war, and especially since President 
Wilson expressed himself in favor of self-determination of races and govern- 
ments. "Nove Slovensko" is a weekly newspaper just started (June, 1918) 
in Cleveland to promote the objects of the League. 

The Slovaks of this councry have wisely joined forces with the larger 
Bohemian organization in the fight for racial freedom, and a combination of 
working forces has been effected in the organization of the "American Branch 
of the Czecho-Slovak National Council". This Council consists of eight dele- 
gates each from the Slovak League and from the Bohemian National Alliance. 
Mr. John Pankuch of Cleveland is a member of the Council. 

"The Bohemian Review" of March, 1918, makes this poignant state- 
ment: "Whereas Bohemian immigrants in America constitute considerably 
less than ten per cent of their race, one-fourth of the whole Slovak people live 
in America. The Bohemian National Alhancc does not and cannot speak for 
the Czech nation, for the Czechs in the old country have their own accredited 
and regularly elected deputies. But the Slovaks of Hungary have no elected 
representatives, and those who emigrated to America must speak for the whole 
race". The president of the Slovak League is Albert Mametej, of Braddock, 
Pa., secretary, John Jancek, an editor from Russia, now in Pittsburgh. 

Under the direction of the Council, the Slovaks share in the organization 
and maintenance of the Czecho-Slovak army. A recruiting office is main- 
tained in Cleveland at 5286 Broadway. Men who are not of draft age, or 
who, because of their technical classification as alien enemies (being nominally 
subjects of Austria-Hungary) are not eligible to service in the United States 
army, are the recruits. 

This army :".> trained at a camp in Stamford, Conn., financed by the 
Council. As soon as the soldiers embark for France, their expenses ate met 
by the French government which understands Austria's internal affairs enough 
to realize, as our government has not done, that Austria's bitterest foes are 
those who have grown up under her sovereignty. In France the Czecho- 
slovaks fight under French officers, but with their own organization, and 
carrying their own flag. (See illustration on page 4.) 

All Slovaks drafted for service in the United States army have waived 
ex(imption, and they are among the most spirited of our soldiers, since they 
have not only the patriotic motives which animate the rest of our army, 
but in addition a very vigorous determination to pay off some of the old scores. 

Slovak Immigration to America. 

The first considerable number of Slovaks coming to America was 1,300 
in 1873. The largest number in any one year was 52,368 in 1905. Cleveland 
was a destination for some from 1880, but up to 1886 most of their number 
settled in the hard coal region of Pennsylvania, in the districts around Wilkes- 
Barre and Scranton. Now they are scattered very widely through the whole 
United States, with a few groups in Canada. About half the whole number, 
however, still is found in Pennsylvania, with Ohio or Illinois probably second 
in number, and New York, New Jersey and Connecticut following. 

Slovaktown, Arkansas, is an agricultural community built up by Slovaks 
who earned the money for their initial venture in the Pennsylvania coal 
fields. 

10 



THE 



SLOVAKS 



O F 



C LEVELAND 



Wherever they have settled in this country, the Slovaks have undertaken 
the hard, heavy labor, the work fundamental to our great industries. Owing 
to their lack of previous opportunity, they have always had to fall into the 
ranks of the unskilled, where their dogged industry and perseverence have 
made them valuable, and their uncomplaining submissiveness has sometimes 
made them the subjects of exploitation. 

The question naturally arises why more of them do not go to the country, 
when practically all were agriculturists before emigration. Two answers are 
offered in reply to this question; first, that the weekly pay envelope is 
irresistibly attractive to people who had had so little money to handle in the 
old covmtry; and second, that in the city, the women also can work. 

Among the Slovak immigrants, it has been very usual for the man of the 
family to come first, often not intending to stay permanently. It was to him 
simply a greater migration than the former habitual one to the plains of Hun- 



City of Cleveland 



SUBURBS 



STUtCT LINC5 
iTREET CAR UNtS 
CITY LIMITS 




1. St. Ladislas' Church 

2. Holy Trinity Church 

3. St. Martin's Church 



Cleveland, Indicating Slovak Centers 

4. St. Wendelin's Church 

5. Nativity Church 

6. St. John's Church 

7. St. Andrew's Church 

11 



8. St. Joseph's Church 

9. Martin Luther Church 

10. First Baptist Slovak Church 



THE 



S L O V A K S 



O F 



CLEVELAND 



gary. Miss Balch shows in "Our Slavic Fellow-citizen" pictures of "Ameri- 
can" homes in Slovensko, built by returned emigrants with the proceeds of 
American toil. Many others, however, have on return found themselves so 
changed as to be out of place in the old surroundings. An "American", 
returning to Hungary, is a thorn in the flesh to the officials, to whom he no 
longer doffs the hat nor kisses the hand. In consequence, passports for the 
second trip are often obtained more easily than they were for the first, and 
the man who went home to stay, shortly severs all ties and brings his family 
to America with him. 

Others, without the experience of returning, analyze things for them- 
selves and conclude, "Why should I go back?" 

After the War. 

When the war comes to an end, there will however be a great exodus, 
caused by the desire for immediate and accurate news of relatives, friends and 
homes from whom the separation has been complete for so long. There are 
in Cleveland more than 600 Slovak men whose families in Hungary were de- 
pendent upon remittances from this country. The agonizing situation of 
these men, so long without news and with so little reason for hope, is such as 
to make them subjects for the keenest sympathy. It is safe to say that there 
is hardly a Slovak in Cleveland who has not mother, wife, children, or sisters 
in the old country, and who will not wish to see with his own eyes what the 
war has done to them. How long he will stay depends upon economic and 
political conditions which it is impossible now even to forecast. 

Distribution of Slovaks in the United States. 

The distribution of Slovaks in the United States is a subject on which it 
is not possible to present any figures, as the census records do not indicate 
the race, but count them in with all the other emigrants from Hungary. 

Two methods of approximation of local populations are available : first, 
the records of the Slovak churches in the United States ; for the Slovaks are a 
religious people, and there are comparatively few without a church connec- 
tion. Second, the records of the various societies, mostly beneficiary, which 
are organized on a nationalistic basis; that is, only persons of Slovak ancestry 
are eligible. 

The establishment of a new Slovak church obviously means the presence 
of a number of Slovaks sufficient in means and interest to buy property and 
to maintain an institution. Similarly, the formation of a branch, or "lodge", 
of a fraternal organization indicates the existence of a group able to meet and 
pay dues, and desirous of receiving the benefits of the organization. 

Distribution of Slovaks in Ohio. 

The distribution of Slovaks in Ohio is indicated by the following list of 
towns which have branches of one or more of these societies: 



Adena 


Belle Valley 


Cambridge 


Congo 


Amsterdam 


Berea 


Canton 


Conneaut -Jester 


Ashtabiila 


Black Top 


Castalia 


Danford 


Ava 


Bradley 


Cincinnati 


Dayton 


Barberton 


Buffalo 


Clay Center 


Dillonvale 


Barton 


Byesville 


Cleveland 


Dover 


Bellaire 


Caldwell 


Coalridge 


East Toledo 



12 




Courtesy of "The American Bohemian Daily" 
"The Father of the Slovaks" 
REV. STEPHEN FURDEK 
For Thirty-three Years a Much Loved Pastor in Cleveland 



13 



THE 



S L O V A K S 



O F 



C L E V E L A N D 



Fai,rport 

Glencoe 

Gypsum 

Haselton 

Hubbard 

Kelley's Inland 

Kipling 

Klondyke 

Laferty 

Leetonia 

Lore City 



Lorain 

Lowellville 

Lucasberg 

Mansfield 

Marblehead 

Martin's Ferry 

Massillon 

Maynard 

Middletown 

Mingo Junction 

Moxahala 



Murray City 

Neffs 

Pine Fork 

Pleasant City 

Port Clinton 

Ramsey 

Rhodesdale 

Robins 

Rossford 

Roswell 

Salem 



South Lorain 

Steuben ville 

Stewartsville 

Struthers 

The Plains 

Toronto 

Walkers 

Wolf Run 

Wheeling Creek 

Yorkville 

Youngstown 



Cleveland became a goal for Slovak immigrants as early as 1880. Jacob 
Gruss (see illustration on page 18), v^ho with his wife came to America in 
that year, was advised by a Bohemian employment agent in New York, to 
proceed to the mining regions of Pennsylvania. Mr. Gruss preferred to work 
above ground, so the agent said, "Why not go to Cleveland? That is anew 
city, with lots of work." 

Arriving here, Mr. Gruss, who now lives at 9627 Stoughton Avenue, 
found one fellow countryman, a man named Roskos, already here. In 1881 
a few more Slovaks came to Cleveland, in 1882 a larger number. 

'The Father of the Slovaks." 

In March, 1882, arrived the Rev. Stephen Furdek, the first Slovak priest 
in America. By a curious turn of fate, he came, however, to minister to the 
Bohemians. Bishop Gilmour, of the Roman Catholic diocese of Cleveland, 
had written to Prague for a priest for his rapidly increasing number of Bo- 
hemian parishes, and Father Furdek, although a Slovak, only 24 years of age, 
and barely through his theological studies, was chosen to answer the call. 
He arrived here in starch, 1882, and was ordained to the priesthood July 2nd, 
in St. Wenceslaus Bohemian church, of which he became the pastor. Two 
years later, he was given the task of organizing the new Bohemian parish 
of Our Lady of Lourdes, which soon became the largest Bohemian parish in 
the city, and where he remained until his death, Jan. 18, 1915. 

While successful to the highest degree in his appointed work among the 
Bohemians, Father Furdek was a man of such breadth of interest, of such 
large ability, and of so much executive talent, that he was able from the first 
to act also as a leader of the Slovaks. Becoming first the friend and counsellor 
of the few whom he found already in Cleveland, his interest grew and broad- 
ened until he became a national figure, and was everywhere affectionately 
known as "The Father of the Slovaks." 

Slovaks in Cleveland. 

There is no official record which will show the growth of our Slovak 
population, but in a general way it can be estimated and localized by reference 
to the history of the Slovak churches of our city. By following their develop- 
ment, it is possible to learn in what parts of the city Slovak centers have 
developed, and at what time each new community has increased to the point 
of forming a new religious organization. 

In 1885 Father Furdek began holding Slovak services regularly in the 
chapel of the Franciscan Brothers on Woodland Avenue, and so brought to- 
gether into a religious body the little group of Slovaks in Cleveland at that 
time. 

14 




St. Ladislas' Roman Catholic Church 



15 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 



These first Slovaks had settled in the district around Hill, Berg, Commer- 
cial, and Fourth Streets, but Father Furdek urged very strongly that they 
find a more desirable location for their permanent home. Through his in- 
fluence a location was chosen in what was then the outskirts of the city, along 
Buckeye Road and parallel streets from about East 78th Street to Woodhill 
Road. Here the settlement rapidly grew, the Slovaks building small, neat 
cottages. 

In 1887, the collection of funds for a church was begun, and an organi- 
zation was effected Dec. 2, 1888. As there were Magyars living in the same 
neighborhood and also in need of a church, an attempt was made to combine 
the two interests, and the parish was named for the Magyar saint, St. Ladislas. 
It was not long before difficulties began to arise between the two races, and 
eventually great bitterness developed. The ensuing contest was settled by 
the Bishop, who decreed that the Magyars should build themselves a new 
church, and that the Slovaks should pay them $1,000 for their interest in 
St. Ladislas. 

In recent years this neighborhood has changed very much, and the small 
homes of the Slovaks have been largely crowded out by tenements, so that 
sixty-five per cent of the original population have now moved farther out. 

New property has been acquired on East Boulevard, at the foot of Sophia 
Avenue, where it is planned first to erect a new school building, to be followed 
later by a new church and other parochial buildings. The present parochial 
school houses about 700 children, who are taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame. 

Holy Trinity Evangelical Congregation. 

The next Slovak parish organization was a Protestant one, the Holy Trin- 
ity Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, founded Dec. 5, 1892. This was 
the third Slovak LutVeran parish in the United States, the first having been in 
Freeland, Pa. 

Holy Trinity parish was established in the down town district, and al- 
though the character of the local population has entirely changed several 
times, the original location still seems most convenient to this congregation. 
The church is at 2506 East 20th Street, where the parishioners find it easy 
to come from all over the city. 

There is a parochial school where two teachers give instruction to 65 
children in the work of the first four grades. For more advanced work, the 
children go to the public schools, and attend special instructions in religion 
and the Slovak language four hours a week in the parochial school. Addi- 
tional property has recently been acquired to furnish a playground for the 
children of the school. 

While this church is one of the oldest Slovak organizations in the city, it 
is an interesting fact that about half of the present congregation are immi- 
grants of the past six or eight years. 

The pastor. Rev. Alexander Jarosi, is a Slovak from southern Hungary. 
Educated in a Hungarian university, his coming to America was due to the 
fact that at the very moment when he was feeling most bitterly the govern- 
mental oppression of his native land, he received a letter from America telling 
him of the great need for Slovak ministers here. Mr. Jarosi is keenly inter- 
ested in assisting the men of his congregation to become American citizens, 

16 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 

and deplores the fact that so far his Hungarian birth and his rank as an officer 
in the Austrian army, have caused the refusal of his various applications 
for service in the United States army. 

St. Martin's Church. 

In the same neighborhood as Holy Trinity Church, the Roman Catholics 
founded St. Martin's Church two years later, in 1894. This was first lo- 
cated on East 25th Street; in 1902 a church was built on East 23rd Street, 
and in 1907 a larger one was erected at the corner of East 23rd and Scovill 
Avenue. The old church is used as a school building, and three dwelling 
houses have also been altered into school rooms. Five hundred and fifty 
children are enrolled, the teachers being the Sisters of St. Joseph. Two young 
men from this parish are now studying for the priesthood. 

The development of these three parishes may be taken to indicate the 
character and location of the first phase of Slovak immigration to Cleveland. 

Nationalistic Societies. 

During this period from 1880 to 1894 the Slovak population of the United 
States increased in very much the same proportion as did the Slovak popula- 
tion of Cleveland, and in 1890 sufficient impetus had been gained to lead to 
the establishment of the first of the nationalistic societies which are so 
large a feature of Slovak life in America. 

National Slovak Society. 

February 16, 1890 marked the beginning of the movement. On that date 
was organized in Pittsburgh under the leadership of P. V. Rovnianek, "The 
National Slovak Society of the United States of America." (Narodny 
Slovensky Spolok v Spojenych Statoch Americkych). Its aims, as stated 
in the "Constitution and By-laws, 1916," are: 

"To educate the Slovak immigrants, who, being victims of unfavorable 
political conditions m their own country, were deprived of the means of 
education and culture; to make of its members all sons of their nation; to 
teach them to love their adopted country and to become useful citizens of 
this Republic; to help one another in sickness and distress and to help the 
widows and orphans when their breadwinners have passed away." 

The duties of members as defined by the By-Laws, include the following : 
"He must lead a moral life, make an honest living, and refrain from acts 
which would bring disgrace upon the National Slovak Society, and dishonor to 
the Slovak race." "It shall be the duty of every member to become a citizen 
of the United States within six years after his admission to the Society. If 
he neglects to do so, a complaint shall be filed against him in the Supreme 
Court." 

Five "funds" are maintained: Mortuary fund, for the payment of 
death benefits; administration fund, for the running expenses of the or- 
ganization; indigent fund, for the relief of disabled members who have ex- 
hausted the benefits to which they are entitled from their local societies, but 
who are in extreme want; a national fund, for "the moral development and 
for the uplifting of the honor and good name of the Slovak nation"— from 
this students may be educated and national purposes promoted ; an orphans' 
and old folks' home fund. 

17 



THE 



SLOVAK S 



O F 



CLEVELAND 




First Convention of the First Catholic Slovak Union — Cleveland, Sept. 4, 1890 
* Jacob Gruss, Cleveland's First Slovak 

The official motto of the society is "Freedom, Justice, Brotherhood." 
It has 700 branches, widely distributed throughout the United States and 
Canada, with 42,259 members, and 7,500 junior members. 6,513 members 
have died, and their beneficiaries have received $4,527,804.96. Sickness and 
accident benefits paid have aggregated 185.228.86. The present capital is 
$1,870,869.56. Albert Mametej, Braddock, Pa., is president and Joseph 
Durish, Pittsburgh is secretary. 

"Narodny Noviny" (National News) a weekly newspaper, is the official 
organ of the society. The Literary Committee is a standing committee of 
the society, whose duty it is to provide for the publication of useful books for 
the members. 

First Catholic Slovak Union. 

On the fourth of September of the same year, another society of similar 
aims was started in Cleveland by the Rev. Stephen Furdek. The first con- 
vention was held in the home of Jacob Gruss, and was attended by eleven dele- 
gates (see illustration on this page.) 

This society was called the First Catholic Slovak Union (Prva Katho- 
licka Slovenska Jednota) and its membership is limited to Roman Catholics 
or Greek Catholics in good standing. Its headquarters are in Cleveland, 
where the secretary has a suite of offices in the Guardian Building. 

"Every member of this Union shall become a citizen of the United States 
within six years after his arrival in this country, and as a true son of the Slovak 
nation he shall cultivate the Slovak language and nationality inherited from 
his forefathers, preserve it for coming generations, and thus become worthy 
of his ancestors." (Extract from the Constitution.) 



18 



« 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 

The first Catholic Slovak Union now has a membership of 50,049 with 
19,690 junior members. It has paid out in benefits $5,000,000 and has a 
capital of $1,532,671.49. The capital of the junior society is $57,513.21. 
A. J. Pirhalla, Duquesne, Pa. is president, Michael Senko, Cleveland, secre- 
tary. 

The distribution of branches is as follows: 

Pennsylvania 302 

Ohio 72 

Illinois 55 

New York 33 

New Jersey 29 

Connecticut 20 

Wisconsin 13 

Michigan 12 

West Virginia 9 

Indiana 7 



Minnesota 


6 


Arkansas 


2 


Missouri 


. . 6 


Wyoming 


. . 2 


Colorado 


. 6 


Louisiana 




Maryland 


. 4 


Georgia 

Oklahoma 




Washington 


. . 3 




Maine 


, . 3 


New Mexico 




Montana 


3 


Virginia 




Massachusetts . . . 


. . 3 


Alabama 




Kansas 


. . 3 


California 




Iowa 


2 


Canada 


. . 7 



"Jednota" (Union), the official publication, was started by Father Furdek 
as a small sheet in 1890, and was edited in Cleveland continuously for the first 
ten years, and intermittently since, the annual convention determining the 
place from year to year. It is a weekly paper, taken by all members, and is 
now published in Middlctown, Pa. 

The Catholic Slovak Ladies' Union. 

This is a society for men ; the Slovak women were no more to be outdone 
than their American sisters would be, so they founded in January, 1892, 
"The CathoHc Slovak Ladies' Union" (KatoHcka Slovenska Zenska Jednota) . 
The organization and by-laws are like those of the brother organization. 
They have capital to the amount of $429,049.48, of which $240,000 has been 
invested in Liberty Bonds. There are 388 branches, having a total of 26,044 
members, with representation in 26 states and Canada. 

The headquarters of the Union are in Cleveland, where Mrs. Anna 
Ondrej, 3134 East 94th Street, is national president, and Mrs. Maria E. 
Grega, 9619 Orleans Avenue, is general secretary. The official organ "Zenska 
Jednota" (Ladies' Union) is edited and published at 5103 Superior Avenue 
by the chaplain, Rev. John M. Liscinsky. 

The Slovak Evangelical Union. 

Naturally the next organization to be founded was of the opposite reli- 
gious faith, the Evangelical. The Slovak Evangelical Union (Slovenska 
Evanjelicka Jednota) was founded in Freeland, Pa. in 1893. Its objects 
also are fraternal. Its capital is $230,225; it has paid out in death benefits 
for men $741,674; for women $77,755; for accidents, $43,399. It has 199 
branches, and 58 junior branches, 10,584 members. 

Its headquarters are now in Allegheny, Pa. The president is Jan 
Matta, Brownsville, Pa. ; secretary Jan B. Bialek, 1601 Beaver Ave. Pittsburgh. 

Its official publication is Slovensky Hlasnik (Slovak Herald) published 
weekly in Pittsburgh. This also serves as organ for the sister society, the 
Evangelical Slovak Ladies' Union. 

The Evangehcal Union has been unfortunate in the matter of unity, 
and an offshoot from it is the National Slovak Western Union, with head- 

19 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 



quarters in Chicago, and the EvangeHcal Slovak Union, founded in 1909 in 
Cleveland, of which John Pankuch of Cleveland is president and Stevan 
Alusie, of 1928 Mead Avenue, Racine, Wis. is general secretar>\ 

Cleveland Slovak Union. 

A local organization along the same lines but non-sectarian in membership 
is The Cleveland Slovak Union, founded in 1899. It has in Cleveland 26 
branches, with 1367 members and a capital of $49,485. The main 
society pays death benefits only, the branches pay also accident and sickness 
benefits. The president is George Putka, 2626 East 130th Street. 

The objects of the Cleveland Slovak Union are stated as follows: "To 
educate the Slovak people, who have been deprived of the privilege of edu- 
cation by unfavorable circumstances in their fatherland; to foster intelligence 
among the members, to teach them to love the new fatherland, and make 
useful American citizens of them; to support the widows and orphans in case 
of the death of members." 

Sokols. 

Another motive, that of physical culture and training, is a prime object 
in the Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol (Telovicna Slovenska Jednota Sokol). 
This had on May 1st, 1918, 10,838 members, most of the chapters being in the 
states of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, 
Ohio and Illinois. Its headquarters are in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where 
it was organized July 4th, 1896. The president is Stephen Erhardt, Bridge- 
port, Conn., the secretary Frantisek Stas, Perth Amboy. 

"Slovensky Sokol" (Slovak Falcon) published semi-monthly at 1424 
Vyse Ave. New York, keeps the members in touch with the organization. 

"The Roman ;;.nd Greek Catholic Gymnastic Slovak Sokol Union" 
(Rimsko a Gr. Katolicka Telovicna Slovenska Jednota Sokol) is a similar 
organization limited to a Catholic membership. It was organized in 1905 in 
Passaic, N. J., has 15,000 members, $100,000 capital, and owns a printing es- 
tablishment valued at $15,000. Its pubHcations are "KatoHcky Sokol," 
weekly, and a monthly juvenile periodical, "Priatel Dietok". 

Each of these national orders has many branches and hundreds of mem- 
bers in Cleveland, and it is doubtless due to their beneficiary features in ad- 
dition to the natural thriftiness of the race that the nvunber of Slovaks who 
appear as apphcants for charitable aid, is extremely small. 

The great danger seems to be that an individual may take out member- 
ship in more societies than he can afford to carry. 

The meeting places of these various "lodges" are often in the parochial 
school buildings, or in rented halls equipped for that purpose. 

Slovak National Home. 

The "Narodny Slovensky Dom" (Slovak National Home) Corporation 
erected in 1906 a building at 8804 Buckeye Road to serve as a general center 
for Slovak organizations and activities. Its management has unfortunately 
not been entirely successful, and its ownership is now vested in M. N. Sobos- 
lay, a prominent Slovak, who regards it as held in trust for its original pur- 
poses. 

20 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 

Second Stage of Growth. 

The second stage in the growth of Cleveland's Slovak population is 
indicated by the fact that at the end of ten years, the three churches already 
described, St. Ladislas, Holy Trinity, and St. Martin's, were no longer suffi- 
cient to care for the needs of the race, and a new era of church building set in. 

St. Wendelin's Church. 

A settlement had gro\\ni up on the West Side, which was formed in May, 
1903, into the parish of St. Wendelin. The original settlement was in the 
district bounded by West 17th and West 22nd Streets, Lorain Avenue and 
Columbus Road. More recently the Slovaks have moved into the old Lincoln 
Heights neighborhood, between West 5th and West Uth Streets. There are 
also about 80 Slovak families near Denison Avenue. 

The present church of St. Wendelin was built in the year of the parish's 
organization, and has for some time been inadequate to the needs of the 
greatly increased membership. Property has been purchased at Columbus 
Road and Freeman Avenue where new buildings will be erected after the war. 
The parochial school of St. Wendelin has 900 pupils, the teachers belonging 
to the Sisters of Notre Dame. 

St. John's Church. 

In 1905 the parish of St. John on West 1 1th Street was founded. It has 
so far had a checquered history, due to a lack of approval on the part of the 
Roman Catholic bishop of the Cleveland diocese. It is now affiliated with the 
Independent Diocese of Scranton, Pa. under the Right Reverend Francis 
Hodur, and has a settled pastor in the person of the Rev. Stephen Vincent 
Tokar, a young American, the son of Slovak parents, born in Pennsylvania. 

A fine church building is just about to be begun, and the parish seems 
to be on the threshold of a brighter future. 

Nativity Church. 

The same influences of industrial opportunity and increased immigra- 
tion which led to the establishment of St. Wendelin's, had also been the oc- 
casion of great growth at St. Ladislas, and the extension of its territory to 
an unwieldy extent. As a result, the parish of St. Mary of the Nativity was 
formed in 1903. This is east of the Newburg plant of the American Steel 
and Wire Company, in the neighborhood of East 93rd Street and Aetna Road. 
While conveniently near the mills for the men who are employed there, the 
land is so much higher that the air is clean and clear. It is a district of home 
owners, of comfortable single or two-family houses, neat yards and well tilled 
gardens. Its orderly development has been inspired since 1909 by a pastor 
who is a true shepherd of his flock, the Rev. V. A. Chaloupka. 

This year the spirit of neighborhood improvement was so general that 
over 6,000 ornamental shrubs were set out, besides small fruit and shade trees. 

The Nativity school building erected in 1916, is built according to the 
most improved models, and possesses features which make it a genuine com- 
mtmity center. Its large auditorium, which seats 800, is in use every Sunday 
evening, and often during the week. Sometimes the dramatic club gives a 
play, sometimes there is a lecture on some topic of the hour, sometimes a 
dance with an attendance of 250 couples, but oftenest the entertainment 

21 



CLEVELAND CLERGY OF SLOVAK BIRTH 





REV. JOHN M. LISCINSKY 
St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church 



REV. PAUL BEDNAR 
First Slovak Baptist Church 




REV. L. A. JAROSI 
Holy Trinity Evangelical Church 




REV. ALBERT D. DLANISKA 
Martin Luther Evangelical Church 



22 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 

provided is moving pictures. Father Chaloupka chooses the films, and 
intersperses the instructive with the merely entertaining. One night last 
winter 1,100 people enjoyed moving pictures depicting religious scenes. 

The bowling alley is a feature of the school building much appreciated 
by the young men of the neighborhood, and the women have classes in the 
various branches of domestic science and in Red Cross work. 

Night school classes in English and citizenship were held last winter 
under the direction of the Americanization Committee, Father Chaloupka 
having himself previously taught citizenship classes, also acting as witness for 
his men in naturalization court. 

St. Andrew's Church. 

The youngest Roman Catholic Slovak church in the city is St. Andrew's 
on Superior avenue, near East 55th street. This also is to some extent an 
outgrowth of St. Ladislas parish, many of the families having moved to this 
neighborhood because of its nearness to their employment in the various 
large manufacturing plants north of Superior avenue, on Lakeside avenue, 
and along the Nickel Plate tracks. They are buying homes in the neighbor- 
hood as fast as the former residents are willing to sell . . This parish was or- 
ganized in 1906, the church was dedicated in 1907. Rev. John M. Liscinsky, 
who has been rector since 1908, has the distinction of being the only Roman 
Catholic priest in the city who is Slovak born, the others being Bohemians and 
Moravians. 

Martin Luther Evangelical Congregation. 

The Martin Luther Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was 
founded in 1910, and used a dwelling at 2139 West 14th St. as a church until 
1917. The four-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation was celebrated 
by this congregation with the opening of their new church. The structure 
is of red brick, very pleasing in style. The Slovak Protestants trace their 
history back to the reformation of John Huss, so in the decorations of this 
church the coat -of -arms of Martin Luther is balanced by "The Cup", the 
emblem of the Hussites. 

Rev. Albert D. Dianiska, the pastor, is a Slovak, whose father and grand- 
father before him were Lutheran ministers. Mr. Dianiska has in his library 
manuscript volumes of devotion which they used in the dark days of religious 
persecution, in Hungary when meetings could be held only in secret, and 
printed books were not available. 

Greek Catholic Church. 

In a religious survey of the Slovaks, consideration must also be given to 
the Greek Catholic Church. This is a church whose existence is hardly known 
to Americans, much less understood by them. It is a result of the efforts 
of the Roman Catholic Church to convert the Greek Orthodox Russians. In 
the year 1595, this effort reached a degree of success among the Little Rus- 
sians (or Ukrainians), who consented to acknowledge the supreme headship 
of the Pope, and to accept the filioque clause in the creed, on condition of being 
allowed to retain various practices of the Eastern Church. They retain the 
mass in Slavonic instead of in Latin, the Eastern arrangement of the church, 
with the great gilt screen in front of the altar, the communion in both kinds 
to the laity, the married clergy, the Eastern form of the cross, with three 
cross-bars, the lowest oblique, the Cyrillic alphabet, and the calendar thirteen 
days behind the Roman. Most of the Little Russians are Greek Catholics; 

23 



THE 



S L O V A K S 



O F 



C L E V E LAN D 





Courtesy of "Hlas" 

JOHN PANKUCH 

Editor "Dennik Hlas," and "Hlas," 

Member Czecho-Slo¥ak 

National Council 



A 



REV. V. A. CHALOUPKA 
Nativity Church 

SO also are those of the same race who live across the border in Galicia and 
in the adjoining part of northern Hungary. In Hungary this race is called by 
various names; perhaps Ruthenian is the best known. They are a Slav 
race, akin to the Slovaks, who adjoin them on the west. It is quite natural 
that where they meet and mingle, there should be mingling of religious faiths. 
Consequently a considerable number of Slovaks are Greek Catholics, but it is 
very difficult to get accurate information on the subject, so far as Cleveland is 
concerned. 

It is noticeable that in every Slovak community there is a Roman Catholic 
church ; then later a Greek Catholic church is formed in the same neighborhood. 
St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church on Scovill Avenue, which has re- 
cently gone over to the Greek Orthodox communion, and the Church of the Holy 
Ghost on Kenil worth Avenue near West 14th Street are undoubtedly made up 
in part of Slovaks. St. Joseph's Greek Catholic Church on Orleans Avenue 
near East 93rd is almost entirely Slovak, while it is probable that other 
churches of that faith have some representatives of the race. 

These Greek Catholic Slovaks are most unfortunately situated in this 
country, since it is very difficult for them to obtain any clergy. They must 
accept clergy who are either Magyar or Ruthenian, and the consequence at 
present is a great amount of dissension. It seems a far cry from Ukrainia's peace 
treaty with Germany to a church quarrel in Cleveland. But the connection 
becomes apparent and urgent when the priest calls himself a Ukrainian with 
all that that may imply as to political sympathies; while the parishioners are 
devoted heart and soul to the Czecho-Slovak cause and do not hesitate to 
call Ukrainia's separate peace a treason to the general cause. 

24 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 



There are several Protestant missions among the Slovaks. The Bap- 
tists have two, of which the larger has a neat church building at College and 
Tremont Avenues, the pastor of which, the Rev. Paul Bednar, is himself a 
Slovak. There are without doubt also Slovak members in every Protestant 
Bohemian church in the city. 

Present Day Statistics. 

Having surveyed the growth and location of Cleveland's Slovak popu- 
lation as indicated in the history of the Slovak churches, we may take the 
church statistics as the only existing basis for a computation of their numbers 
at the present day. 

The Roman Catholic clergy record the size of their parishes by the number 
of families, and then estimate the number of individuals usually by figuring 
five persons to a family. The Lutheran pastors record the actual number of 
contributing members, which may be taken to mean usually heads of families. 
Five is a very conservative figure to use as a multiple, since Slovaks all have 
large families, ten or twelve children being not at all unusual. 

The figures thus obtained make the number of Slovaks in Cleveland about 
35,000 as follows: 

St. Ladislas' parish 4,000 

Holy Trinity parish 2,500 

St. Martin's parish 3,500 

St. Wendelin's parish. . 5,000 

St. John's parish 2,500 

St. John the Baptist parish 3,500 

Nativity parish 2,500 

St. Andrew's parish 2,000 

Martin Luther parish 3,000 

St. Joseph's parish 1,000 

Other churches 3,500 

No church connection 2,000 

Total 35,000 

The location, of these churches indicates the principal centers of the race 
in Cleveland. The different neighborhoods show the variations incident to 
the length of residence in this country and consequent financial condition. 
All Slovaks have come here poor and industrially unskilled, and the first 
generation can seldom do more than establish the family economically. Their 
children must work as soon as they are able and help to secure the family's fi- 
nancial footing. This includes always the ownership of a home, the purchase 
of property being particularly satisfying to the Slovak because it is something 
he could never have hoped for in the old country. The percentage of home 
owners varies from about one-third in some districts to over three-fourths 
in others. 

Three Slovak building and loan associations assist in the acquisition of 
property. They are: 

The Tatra Savings and Loan Association 2437 Scovill Ave. 

The First Slavonian Mutual Building and Loan 

Association 9722 Buckeye Rd. 

The Orol Building and Loan Association 12509 Madison Ave. 

25 



THE 



S L O V A K S 



O F 



CLEVELAND 




Bowling Alley at Nativity School 

Slovaks in Industry. 

While the location of their churches indicates the principal centers of 
the race in the city, the original determination of that location was usually 
due to its accessibility to manufacturing plants offering employment in the 
kind of work which Slovaks are best able to do. The Slovak of Cleveland, 
like the members of his race elsewhere, furnishes the fundamental heavy 
labor for many of our largest industries. They constitute a large proportion 
of the pay-roll m such plants as the American Steel and Wire Company, the 
Corrigan-McKinney Co., the Cleveland Hardware Co., the Ferry Cap and 
Screw Co., the National Carbon Co., the Mechanical Rubber Co., and 
the Upson Nut Co. Their homes are therefore located in districts from which 
they can easily reach these plants. 

Many of the young women work in cigar and candy factories. 
Slovak Citizenship. 

As soon as the Slovak has decided to make this country his home, he 
takes out "citizen" papers and becomes an American. His doing so is stimu- 
lated by the regulations of the fraternal society to which he belongs and by his 
pastor. 

The clergy of the Slovak parishes in Cleveland are entitled to great 
credit for the influence which they exert in behalf of Americanization. Sev- 
eral of them have personally conducted citizenship classes, taking their men 
to the court for examination ; while others have exerted their influence to have 
their men take advantage of existing agencies in schools, libraries, etc. This year 
(1917-18) classes in English and citizenship were conducted under the direction 
of the Americanization Committee, in the parochial schools of St. Wendelin, 
St. Ladislas, and Nativity, and in the church of the Holy Ghost. 

26 




"Movie" Night at Nativity School 




Exhibit of Pupils' Work at Nativity School 



27 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 



At St. Wendelin's a kindergartner was provided to take care of the 
little children of the mothers who attended. 

At least one-third and in some districts a much higher percentage of the 
Slovak men are American citizens. 

Slovak Publications in Cleveland. 

Intelligent citizenship is greatly assisted by local newspapers in their own 
language. "Dennik Hlas" (Daily Voice) and the weekly edition "Hlas" 
extend to all Slovaks the sturdy Americanism and the true patriotism of the 
editor, Mr. John Pankuch, who is known among Slovaks throughout the 
United States. It is published at 634-638 Huron Road. 

"Nove Slovensko", published at the same address, under the editorship 
of Ignace Gessay, is devoted to the interests of the Slovak League. 

"Zenska Jednota", (Woman's Union), a semi-monthly, and "Obrana" 
(Defense), an illustrated periodical, are published at 5103 Superior A venue by 
the Rev. John M. Liscinsky. 

The following books in Slovak have been published by Cleveland authors. 
The list is doubtless incomplete. The Americanization Committee will be 
glad_^to receive additions to the list: 

Furdek, Stephen Kde se vzal svet? 

' < 160 pages, illustrated. 

Furdek, Stephen Svet a jeho zahady. 

1910. 249 pages, illustrated. 

Furdek, Stephen Slovak text books for use in Slovak schools. 

Horvath, Frantisek Sbierka slovenskych piesni. (Slovak songs with 

music.) published in Leipzig. 
Marshall, Gustav (pseud-Petrovsky) . Abrahamova obet; trans- 
lated from the Dutch of Gustav Jansson. 

Marshal], Gustav (pseud-Petrovsky). Z pcd zanejov Americkych. 

Salva, Karol Tovarysstvo. 3 volumes. 

Konig, Janko and Pankuch, Jan Slovensky humoristicky kalendar 

pre americkych Slovakov na rok 1915. 
Wolf, Antoin Hlupy Janko. 

Other Slovak Publications. 

Other Slovak publications of general interest are: 
"How to obtain citizenship" in English and Slovak; 
"Slovensko-Americky vencek" (Slovak-American song-book). 
"Slovak-American Interpreter. Novy Anglicky Tlumocnik pre Slo- 
vakov V Amerike". 
These are all publications of the Slovak Press, 166 Avenue A., New York. 

Dixon, Charlton Slovak grammar for English speaking students. 

Mametej, Albert. Novy Americky tlumac. (New American Interpreter). 
Thsse were both published by Rovnianek in Pittsburgh in 1904. 
Kadak, P. K. .ObrazkovedejinyAmeriky (History of the United States). 
Scranton, Pa. 1908. 

Nyitray, Emil Slovensko-Anglicky a Anglicko-Slovensky vacko\y 

slovnik. (Slovak-English pocket dictionary). 
Mr. M.N. Soboslay has a Slovak book store at 9722 Buckeye Road, where 
he carries books in that language from all over the world. 

28 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 




Choir of St. John's Church in Native Costume for Dramatic Performance 
With Rev. S. V. Tokar 

Public Library. 

The Cleveland Public Library has 450 Slovak books, which are in con- 
stant use among the Slovaks of the city, many of whom also read the larger 
collection of Bohemian books in the Library. 

Slovak Education in America. 

The Slovak, who had so little opportunity for education in his own child- 
hood, appreciates very highly the facilities open to his children in the schools 
of this country. It is seldom financially possible for him to send them farther 
than the grammar grades in the first years of life in the new country, but of 
course that represents a great gain over what would have been possible in 
Hungary. With the acquisition of homes and comfortable living conditions, 
the number of children in high school increases very rapidly. A good many 
have graduated from business schools, and gone into office work instead of 
following their fathers into the factory. 

There are as yet only a few professional men among the Slovaks: The 
following are apparently the only ones: 

J. C. Ferencik, and Gustavus C. Gilbert, attorneys. 

M. Francisci, a physician at 3242 Lorain Avenue, and Dr. John A. Filak, 
now in the United States service. Dr. Francisci is also widely known as a 
musician and composer. 

The Slovak as an American. 

As a member of the community, the Slovak has in a high degree those 
quahties of character which make the solid substantial citizen. He is nat- 
urally conservative, and not inclined to seek changes in the social order, 

29 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 




Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church 



30 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 



therefore he has an extremely small representation among the Socialists, 
and is never an agitator. Rather his disposition is always to make the best 
of things as he finds them. He is simple, direct, straightforward. The word 
subterfuge has no equivalent in his language. He is industrious in a patient, 
plodding way. In his own country, he worked to an accompaniment of song. 
A field of agricultural laborers would sing folk-songs together as they worked, 
songs in a minor key, breathing patience and resignation. Here he is some- 
times confused by the speeding-up process, but adapts himself to it with the 
same spirit of patient resignation, but alas, with no opportunity for song. 

He buys property, and thus early becomes a tax-payer. He becomes a 
citizen and a voter; as yet he has had no desire to share in the machinery of 
our political parties, but his understanding of the issues involved in an elec- 
tion is probably equal to that of the average native-born. 

As he cultivates his flourishing "war-garden", he wonders if his friends 
and relatives back in Hungary are having anything at all to eat, and he puts 
all his soul into the making of the munitions which are to free them from the 
yoke of centuries. 

Ask one hundred Slovaks why they came to America, and two or three 
will say that they came "to see what it was like", while the other ninety-seven 
or ninety-eight will promptly give you these three reasons: "To make a 
better living, to educate my children, to live under a free government." 

Surely these are the best ideals that we can ask of any immigrant. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Balch, Emily G Our Slavic fellow-citizens. 

Capek, Thomas The Slovaks of Hungary. 

Jamarik, Paul Hungary and the future peace terms; 

pub. by the Slovak League. 

Kulamer, John The Life of John Kollar; pub. by the Slovak League. 

Mamatej, Albert The situation in Austria-Hungary; a reprint of an 

article in the Journal of Race Development. Oct. 1915. 

Rovnianek, P. V The Slovaks in America. 

(In Charities, v. 13: p. 239-245, Dec. 3, 1904.) 

Seton-Watson, R. W Racial problems in Hungary. 

Steiner, E. A The Immigrant Tide; its ebb and flow. 

p. 93-101. The doctor of the Kopanicze. 

p. 124-138. The disciples in the Carpathians. 

p. 215-226. The Slav in historic Christianity. 

United States Immigration Commission. Dictionary of races or peoples, 1911. 



(Article on the Slovaks, p. 132.) 



31 



THE SLOVAKS OF CLEVELAND 



Slovak Newspapers and Periodicals 

Published in the United States. 
Daily 

Deiinik Slovak v Amerike 166 Ave. A, New York 

Narodny Dennik 4th & Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

New Yorksky Dennik 502 East 73rd St., New York 

Denny Hlas 634-638 Huron Rd., Cleveland 

Semi-weekly 

Slovak V Amerike 166 Ave. A, New York 

Weekly 

Amerikansko-Slovenske Noviny 4th & Penn Ave., Pittsburgh 

Jednota Middletown, Pa. 

Bratstvo 9-11 E. North St. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 

Slovensky Hlasnik 1601 Beaver Ave. N. S., Pittsburgh 

Rovnost Ludu 1510 W. 18th St., Chicago 

Slovensky Pokrok 309 E. 75th St., New York 

Hlas 634-638 Huron Rd., Cleveland 

Narodne Noviny 514 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh 

Katohcky Sokol 263 Monroe St., Passaic, N. J. 

Youngstownske Slovenske Noviny. . . .239 E. Front St., Youngstown, Ohio 

Zumal Spojenych Majnerov 1103 Merchants' Bank, Indianapohs 

Nove Slovensko 634-638 Huron Rd., Cleveland 

Nove Casy 1702 So. Halstead St., Chicago 

Semi-monthly 

Obrana 1276 E. 59th St., Cleveland 

Slovensky Sokol 1424 Vyse Ave., New York 

Zenska Jednota 1276 E. 59th St., Cleveland 

Prehlad Middleto vvn. Pa. 

Monthly 

Svedok Streator, 111. 

Zivena 2007 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago 

Kruh Mladeze N. S. S 524 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh 

Slovenska Mladez Box 1704, Pittsburgh 

Ave Maria Box 2301, Bridgeport, Conn. 

Prehl'ad Mt. Pleasant, Pa. 

Priatel' Dietok 115 Hill St., Boonton, N. J. 

Udalosti Sveta Hazleton, Pa. 

Dobry Pastier 78 Brook St., Bridgeport, Conn. 



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